Machine for manufacturing brake shoe inserts



Jan. 23, 1940. w. s. FRAULA 2,183,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8. 1937 9Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1940. w, s, FRA LA 2,188,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 23, 1940. w. s. FRAULA MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURINGBRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 23, 1940. w.s. FRAULA 2,188,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 23, 1940. w. s. FRAULA 2,183,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTE ,Filed June 8, 1.957 9Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 23, 1940. w. s. FRAULA MACHINE FOR MANUFACTUR INGBRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 23, 1940. w.s. FRAULA 2,188,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 23, 1940. w, s FRAULA 2,188,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1957 9Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 23, 1940. I w s FR A 2,188,146

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS Filed June 8, 1937 9Sheets-Sheet 9 7 LEVEUNG FINGERCM JAWOPERAHNG CAM a I Q wme TmsTlNGCLUTCH CAM L143 0 v EJ'ECTOR CAM k 35 CONVEYOR cAM Patented Jan. 23,1940 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BRAKE SHOE INSERTS WilliamS. Fraula, Suifern, N. Y., asslgnor to The American Brake Shoe andFoundry Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJune 8, 1937, Serial No. 147,026

Claims.

This invention relates to the production of expanded metal inserts forbrake shoes and similar castings and. while the invention is so entitledand will be explained hereinafter with particular referenceto theproduction of such inserts, it is to be understood that it is adaptablefor other usages and especially to those entailing the handling ofmaterial likely to cut or otherwise injure the hands of those employedin the production of articles from such material and also in thoseinstances where the material does not freely slide upon itself orentails other kindred handling problems.

The use of reenforcing inserts of expanded metal in railway brake shoesand similar castings is a common practice and it has been determinedthat the most economical and satisfactory manner of producing suchinserts is to first out large sheets of expanded metal into blanks ofproper size, to then stack these blanks one upon the other to affordinserts of the desired thickness, and to subsequently so bind the stacksor bundles of such blanks that the bundles can be handled as units. dlesare to serve as inserts for railway brake shoes or other curvedcastings, a curvature similar to the desired curvature of the castingsin which the bundle is to be used is imparted to the bundles as a stepin the production thereof.

Expanded metal is typical of a material which entails many problems inthe handling thereof. In the first place it is replete with sharp edgesand projecting portions which makes it difficult to handle and it hasbeen found that operatives employed in the production of articles fromsuch a material frequently sufier injurious cuts on their hands. Whilegloves may beworn, it is necessary to use gloves of heavy material whichwill not readily tear and this makes the gloves clumsy and impairs theefiiciency of the operatives. Furthermore, expanded metal catches on theclothing of the operatives and causes rips and tears and is otherwisesubject to objections especially in so far as the manual handlingthereof is concerned. 6

But at least equally important with the foregoing is another seriousdisadvantage in the handling of expanded metal which arises particularlywhere sheets of expanded metal are cut into blanks. This disadvantageisthat it is almost impossibleto slide one blank cut from expanded metalacross another. It should be noted that there are other materials thatare subject to this same and kindred objections. Hence one of theimportant objects of this invention is to facilitate the handling ofblanks made of material'possessing characteristics that makes itdifficult to slide the blanks one upon the other and of which materialexpanded metal is an excellent example, and another important object isto eliminate Moreover, where the bun-f ,provided for effectingpredetermined operations as far as possible the manual handling of suchmaterial in the production of articles therefrom so as to avoidlikelihood of injury to the operatives, tearing of the operativesclothing, and the like.

Still another important object of the invention is to automaticallyproduce articles such as bundles or inserts, suitable for use incastings or the like, from a material such as expanded metal, and otherobjects ancillary to the foregoing are to cut blanks of proper size forthe articles from sheets of expanded metal or the like; to automaticallystack blanks so cut from sheets of expanded metal or the like one uponthe other to thereby provide articles of desired thickness andconsisting of a plurality of layers; to securely bind the stack d blanksto afford bundles that maybe handled as units; and to impart a desiredcurvature or other configuration to the bundles to thereby render thebundles ready for use upon discharge thereof from-the machine in whichthe just enumerated objects are realized.

. F'u rther objects of the invention are to provide a dn'achine whereinvarious operating parts are and to so time the operation of theoperating arts that a plurality of operations may be efrec tedsimultaneously; to sointerconnect the opera ing parts to the drivingmeans therefor that like "hood of injury to such parts in event ofimproper or unanticipated oper'ationwill be prevented; and to so drivethe operating parts that the timed relation thereof may be maintainedand power may be directly applied to those parts of the apparatusperforming the heaviest duty and subjected to the highest strains.

Other and more specific objects of the invention-are to so control theoperation of the means cutting blanks from sheets of expanded metal orthe like that a varied number of blanks may be cut from a sheet ofexpanded metal in a particular cycle of operation of the machine; tofacilitate stacking of blanks cut from sheets of expanded metal or thelike by so regulating the operation of the blank receiving means thatthe blanks may be maintained substantially level while passing into thestacking means whereby catching of projecting portions on the blanks oneupon the other may be avoided; to index stacks of blanks cut fromexpanded metal or the like other; to automatically and securely bindstacked blanks to thereby enable bundles of blanks to be 7 handled asunits; and to automatically pass the bound bundles to means forimparting a curvature or other configuration to the bundles.

Other and furtherobjects of the invention will become apparent as thefollowing description proceeds wherein reference is made to theaccompanying drawings in which I from one operating part of the machineto an- 150 Fig. 1 is an end view of a machine embodying my invention; p

Fig. 2 is an elevational side view looking at the machine from theleft-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 3- -3-onFig. 1; a

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of the view shownin Fig. 3 and substantially on the line 4-4 on Fig. 3;

Figs. 4A and 4B are fragmentary detail views showingv successivepositions occupied by the means receiving the blanks cut-from sheets ofexpanded metal in the machine; 7

Fig. 5 is a side detail view taken substantially on the line 55 on Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view ofone of the bundles producedin the illustratedmachine;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the bundle shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially on theline 88 on Fig. 3;

, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of theparts shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a detail view taken substantially on the line Iii-Ill on Fig.3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line on Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line |2 -|2 on Fig. 9;

Fig.13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line |3|3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view showing thedischarge end of themeans for imparting curvature to the bundle illustrated in Figs. 6 and7;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view showing the drive for'the partsillustrated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts shown at the rightin. Fig. 9;

- Fig. 17 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line I|-|1 on Fig. 9; and

Fig. 18 is a timing chart illustrating the relative operative times ofthe variousoperating parts of the machine.

At what may be called the rear end of the machine and which appears atthe left in Fig. 2 is a punch press P comprising a frame generallyindicated by 29 having a crank shaft 2| journaled therein at the upperend thereof, the throw 22 of this crank shaft being disposedsubstantially midway between the side membersof the {frame 20. The ram23 of the press is connected to the throw 22 by the usual pitman 23a tobe recip'rocated vertically in the operation .of the press. Power foroperating theshaft 2| of the I press is supplied from a motor 24 mountedon the top of the frame'28 and under control of a suitable switch device(not. shown) that is suitably mounted'at a convenient position on themachine. A pinion 25 on the shaft of motor 24 meshes with a gear- 26aformed on the flywheel 28 that is rotatable on a shaft 2|A (Fig. 4)supported by the frame in alignment with the shaft 2| and which, ifdesired, may be 'a part of the shaft 2|. A clutch generally indicated by2'! is interposed between the flywheel 26 and the shaft 2| and is undercontrol of the throwout dog 28. When the dog 28 is retracted the clutch21 connects the shaft 2| to the flywheel 28 whereupon the ram 23 isreciprocated. By

holding the dog 28 retracted for a predetermined time the ram 23 may becaused to make onertwo, three, four or more reciprocations in each cyclof operation of the machine.

In order to insure positive timed operation of the various operatingparts of the machine a cam shaft 29 is provided which extendslongitudinally of the machine. The cam shaft is suitably journaled inthe frame 39 that extends forwardly from the frame 20 of the press P.

A motor 3| is provided which has a pulley 32 fast on the shaft thereof.A belt 33 is passed about the pulley 32 and about 'a pulley 34 fast onthe shaft 35 (Fig. 9) suitably journaled in the frame 30 at the frontend thereof. A pinion 38 fast on the shaft 35 meshes with a gear 31 faston the cam shaft 29, the ratio between said pinion and gear beingsubstantially three to one. Hence when the motor 3| is set in operationthe cam shaft 29 is rotated.

Operation of the motor 3| is under control of a suitable switch device(not shown) mounted at a convenient place on the machine so as to bereadily accessible to the operator. Preferably, in accordance with theusual custom in the art, the switch device consists of a start buttonwhich may be pressed to set the motor 3| in operation and a stop buttonwhich is pressed when it is'desired to interrupt operation of thismotor. As will be understood, a plurality of such switch devices may beprovided in convenient places on the machine to facilitate control ofoperation of the motor 3|.

The operation of the various operating parts of the machine is effectedunder control of cams provided on the shaft 29 as will be more fullyexplained hereinafter.

Thus, in order to control operation of the throw-out dog 28 andconsequently the ram 23, a link 38 is suitably connected to thethrow-out dog 28. A'rocker 39 (Fig. 4) is mounted on the shaft 49journaled in the frame 20 of the press P. A peripheral cam 4| is fast onthe cam shaft 29 and a cam follower roller 42 is mounted at end thereofconnected to a pin 44 that interconnects the rocker 39 with the link 38.The other end of the spring 43 is suitably connected to an anchor plate45 fast on the frame 20. When the roller 42 passes from a rise on thecam 4| onto the relieved part of this cam the link 38 is pivoteddownwardly to retract the dog 28 to set the ram 23 in operation, theparts being shown in this position in Fig. 4. The length of the relievedpart of the cam 4| determines the length of time the dog 28 will beretracted and this in turn determines the number of reciprocations thatwill be made by the ram 23. The illustrated arrangement is such that thedog 28 will be retracted for a suflicient period of time to permit theram 23 to make three reciprocations in each cycle of operation of themachine which is to say one revolution of the cam shaft 29 andconsequently of the cam 4|. It will of course be apparent that when theroller 42 passes back onto the rise on the cam 4| the link 38 is movedupwardly to reposition the dog '28 in position to disengage the clutch21.

It will be understood that the operating speed of the shaft 2| is fasterthan the operating speed of the cam shaft 29 in order that the ram ofthe press may make a plurality of reciprocations if desired during onerevolution of the shaft 29.

It may happen that it will be desirable to quickly interrupt operationof the ram 23 once it hasbeen set in operation by action of the cam 4|.This is preferably effected manually and to this end a 'slot 46 isprovided at the lower end of the link 88 into which a pin 41 isextended. The pin 41 is carried at the outer end of an arm 48 fast ontheshaft 48 journaled in suitable bearings provided in the frames 28 and 88in alignment with one of the side frames of the press P. Arms 58(Fig. 1) are fast to the shaft 48 and extend across the machine toproject beyond the opposite side thereof to be in a position where anoperator of the machine will usually stand. A treadle is fast to thefree ends of the arms 58.

When the press is in operation the operator may step on the treadle 5|and thereby move the link 38 upwardly which will cause the dog 28 tomove from retracted position and eilect disengagement of the clutch 21whereby rota.

tion of the shaft 2| and consequently reciprocation of the ram 28 willbe interrupted. The length of the slot 48 and the disposition thereofrelative to the pin 41 is such that the link 88 may be moved by therocker 88 under control of the cam 4| without moving the shaft 48 andthe treadle 5|.

A stationary cutter 52 (Fig. 3) is provided on the bed of the press P. Acutter 58 is mounted at the lower end of the ram 23 and in thereciprocation of the ram 28 cooperates with the stationary cutter 52 toshear material disposed over said stationary cutter.

In the present instance, as has been explained, the material to besheared by the cutters 52 and 53 is expanded metal which, in the presentinstance, is in the form of sheets. Preferably the sheets are of a widthcorresponding to the desired length of the inserts so that only one cutwill be necessary in order to afford a blank of a desired size. Sheetsof expanded metal S are fed into the press by automatic means to beexplained presently.

In Fig. 6 the expanded metal is illustrated and by referring thereto itwill be seen that the metal is expanded so as to comprise substantiallydiamond-shaped openings longer between two opposite corners thereof thanbetween the other two opposite corners. Preferably, though notnecessarily, the sheets S of expanded metal are fed to the press P inpairs. When this is done it is desirable to have the longer length ofthe diamond-shaped openings in 'one sheet of expanded metal extended atright angles to the longer length of the diamond-shaped openings in theother layer. The expanded metal illustrated in Fig. 6 is arranged inthis manner.

An elongated table T, which is only fragmentally illustrated, is securedto the rear side of the press P and the sheets of expanded metal arerested on this table T and fed forwardly to pass under a guide plate 54(Fig. 3) disposed above and spaced from the table, in the presentinstance, in an amount sufiicient to enable two sheets of expanded metalto pass between it and the top of the table T.

An opening 55 is provided in the table T and an opening 58 is providedin the plate 54 in alignment with the opening 55. A part of theperiphery of a roller 51 extends through the opening 55 and a part ofthe periphery of a roller 58 extends through the opening 58. The roller51 is provided with trunnions 58 (Fig. 8) journaled in bearing sleeves88 fixedly mounted in the frame 28 of the press P. Roller 58 is providedwith trunnions 8| journaled in bearing sleeves 82. The bearing sleeves82 are mounted for floating movement in relatively enlarged openings 83pro-' vided in the frame 28. Springs 84 in the openinss 83 act on thebearing sleeves 82 to force the roller 88 toward the roller 51, suitablemeans such as those illustrated in Fig. 8 being provided to adjustthe-tension of the springs 84. The peripheries of the rollers 51 and 58are preferably longtiudinally fluted and .this, in cooperation with theyieldable urging of the roller 58 toward the roller 51, enables thesheets 8 of expanded metal passed below the guide plate 54 to be firmlyclamped in the bite between the rollers 51 and 58.

Intermediate downward movements of the ram 23 in the operation of thepress the rollers 51 and 58 are operated to advance the sheets ofexpanded metal past the cutter 52 in an amount equal to the desiredwidth of the blanks to be cut from the sheets of expanded metal. Themeans for effecting such operation of the rollers 51 and 58 include theadjustable crank 85 (Fig. 5) mounted at the end of the shaft 2| oppositethe clutch 21. An arm 88 is rockably mounted on an extension provided onone of the trunnions 8| of the roller 58. A ratchet wheel 81 isinterposed between the arm 88 and the shoulder on the just mentionedtrunnion 8| and is fast to said trunnion. A pawl 88 is mounted on thearm 88 and cooperates with the ratchet 81. The pawl 88 is so arrangedthat it may be held in an over-center position by the springs 88 to beengaged with the teeth of the ratchet 81 but said pawl may be swung pastcenter so that the springs 88 will serve to hold the pawl disengagedfrom the teeth of the ratchet 81, this being resorted to when it isdesired to render the feeding action of the rollers 58 and 51inoperative.

A gear 1| (Fig. 8) is fast to the trunnion 8| opposite that on which thearm 88 is mounted and this gear meshes with a gear 12 fast on thetrunnion 59 of the roller 51 associated with the last mentioned trunnion8|. The ratio between the gears 1| and 12 is one to one so that therollers 51 and 58 operate synchronically inasmuch as these rollers areof equal diameter.

A link 18 (Fig. 5) interconnects the adjustable crank 85 and the arm 88,and movement imparted to the crank 85 is transmitted through this linkto the arm 88. The adjustable crank 85 enables the amount of movementimparted through the link 18 to the arm 88 to be adjusted whereby theamount of feeding movement of the rollers 51 and 58 may be adjusted.

In order to prevent overrunning of the rollers 51 and 58 a tensiondevice D (Fig. 8) acts on one of the trunnions 59 of the roller 51, saidtension Eievice preferably being of the adjustable friction Anadjustable gauge device G (Fig. 3) is mounted on the bed of the press Pand the operation of the rollers 51 and 58 is so adjusted that theleading edges of the sheets S are fed into engagement with gauge plate Gof this device in each operation of the rollers 51 and 58 whereby blanksof uniform width are cut in successive operations of the ram 23.

During rotation of the shaft 2| and during downward movement of the ram23, the link 18 moves downwardly and when the pawl 88 is arranged tocooperate with the teeth of the ratchet 81 said pawl freely rides overthese teeth during this downward movement. However, shortly after theram 23 starts to move upwardly the pawl 68 seats in one of the teeth ofthe ratchet 81 and thereupon movement is imparted to the rollers 58 and51. As stated before, the amount of movement so imparted to the rollers51 and 58 determines the extent to which the sheets 8 of expanded metalclamped between these rollers will be fed beyond the stationary cutter52 which in turn determines the width oi movement thereof. It will beappreciated that after a portion of the expanded metal has been fed pastthe stationary cutter 52 and the ram 28 is caused to descend, thecooperation of the cutter 53 with the cutter 52 will cause those partsof the sheets extended beyond the cutter 52 to be severed from thesheets to provide blanks.

It has been explained heretofore that because of the uneven edges of theblanks cut from expanded metal and the presence of projections on theseedges and the like, it is difficult to cause one blank cut from expandedmetal to slide upon another. In fact it is difficult to cause suchblanks to slide properly over a smooth surface. Furthermore, it isdesirable: that an insert for a brake shoe consist of several layers ofblanks such as are cut from expanded metal in the above describedoperation. Thus, if the blanks were cut from the sheets S and caused tofall they might become jammed in a cocked position. Furthermore, if oneblank had already been cut and dropped and it was desired to cut anddrop another on top of the first blank, it is unlikely that the twoblanks would ever become arranged in parallel relation.

Because of the foregoing and to insure neat stacking of the cut blanks,I provide means which I will call leveling fingers, for receiving theblanks as they are cut from the sheets of expanded metal. A verticalmovement is imparted to these leveling fingers so that when the firstblanks for a stack or bundle of blanks which will afford an insert arecut the leveling fingers lie immediately below the blank so that when itis cut it will promptly rest upon the leveling fingers without fallingany appreciable distance. The leveling fingers are then lowered so thatwhen the next blank is cut it will properly rest upon the precedingblank and will not be required to fall any appreciable distance. Ifadditional blanks are to be stacked upon those already stacked, theleveling fingers lower still further. This operation is continued untilas many blanks as desired have been stacked upon the leveling fingerswhereupon the stack or bundle of blanks is removed from the levelingfingers in a manner to be described hereinafter and thereafter theleveling fingers are moved upward- 1y to be returned to their initialblank receiving position.

Such leveling fingers in the present instance include a pair of plungers13 and 14 (Fig. 4) that are mounted for reciprocal movement in verticalextending bores provided in the frame 20. Pads as 15 are provided at theupper ends of the plungers l3 and 14 and blanlm cut from the sheets Sare supported by these pads as soon as they are severed from the sheetsS.

Vertical movement is imparted to the plungers l3 and 14 from a yoke I6(Figs. 3 and 4) which has a roller 11 journaled therein. The roller 11rests on a peripheral cam 18 fast on the cam shaft 29.

The plunger 13 extends through a connecting device generally indicatedby 19 and has a nut provided at the lower end thereof for limitingmovement of the plunger relative to the connecting device 18 in onedirection. An arm 8i (Fig. 3) extends from the connecting device 19 andis connected to an arm 18a of the yoke 18 by a pin and slot connection82. A block 88 is fast on the plunger 13 and as best shown in Fig. 3 isrelieved in its lower portion to provide a pair of oppositely disposeddownwardly facing shoulders. A pair of spring arms 84 bear against thedownwardly facing shoulders on the block 83 and serve to connect theconnecting device 18 to the plunger 13. A similar arrangement isprovided for connecting the arm 16b of the yoke I6 to the plunger 14.The yieldable connection afforded by the downwardly facing shoulders onthe block as 83 and the spring arms as 84 enables separation of theplunger from the means imparting movement thereto in event anythingobstructs free movement of these plungers.

During the time the first blanks for a stack or bundle of blanksarebeing cut from the sheets S the roller 11 engages the highest part ofthe cam 18 and holds the plungers I3 and 14 and the pads I5 thereon intheir uppermost position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. After the firstblanks have been cut from the sheets and have fallen onto the pads 15,the cam 18 will have rotated with the cam shaft 29 in an amountsufllcient to bring the roller 11 into engagement with the nextlowermost part thereon wherefore the plungers 13 and 14 and the pads 15thereon will have been lowered in an amount suflicient to permit thenext blanks cut from the sheets S to fall upon the blanks alreadyresting upon the pads 15 without requiring that the newly out blanksslide over the blanks resting on the pads I5. The parts are illustratedin this position in Fig. 4A. Immediately after this the cam 18 will haverotated in an amount sufficient to bring the roller 11 into engagementwith the lowermost portion of the cam 18, at which time the parts willbe in the position illustrated in Fig. 4B, and when in this position thenext blanks cut from the sheets S will neatly fall upon the blanksalready supported by the pads 15 without necessity of sliding thereover.

If additional blanks were to be stacked on those already cut the roller11 would not yet be engaging the lowermost part of the cam. However, inthe present instance, the arrangement is such that three sets of blanksare to be stacked one upon the other to afford a bundle or insert andtherefore the roller ll engages the lowermost part of the cam 18 at thetime the third set of blanks iscut from the sheets S. Immediately afterthe third set of blanks is cut and deposited it is carried away from thepads 15 and the roller ll thereafter engages a sharp rise on the cam 18which restores the pads 15 to their initial blank receiving positionwhereupon the above described operation is repeated.

It is to be understood that the various steps in the cam 18 are sograduated that the pads are lowered in steps of sizes proportionate tothe thickness of the blanks, the sizes of the steps being variedaccording to variations in the thicknesses of the blanks.

In order to carry blanks cut from the sheets S and stacked in theforegoing manner out of the press P to the other operating parts of themachine, a conveyor C is provided. The conveyor C comprises a pair ofendless chains and 88 which are passed about sprockets respectivelymounted in spaced apart relation on the shafts 81 and 88 (Fig. 2). Theshaft 81 is suitably journaled in theframe 20 while the shaft 88 isjournaled in the frame 30 about midway in the longitudinal extentthereof.

and 88. Cooperatingpairs of bundle receivers are mounted-on the chains85 and 88 in spaced apart relation. Each bundle receiver comprises abottom plate as 93 and upwardly extending fingers as 94, (Fig. 10) theparts 93 and 94 being arranged in a substantiallyright-angular relation.The bundle receivers in each pair are oppositely faced as shown in Fig.9.

In a manner to be described presently the conveyor C is indexed in astep by step manner. The pairs of bundle receivers are so spaced on theconveyor and movement of the conveyor is so arranged that during each atrest interval in the step by step movement a pair of bundle receiversare aligned with the pads I5 as is.

illustrated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the upper reaches of the chains 85and 86 are so positioned vertically that when the pads attain theirlowermost position the bottom-most blanks carried by the pads 15 willrest upon the bottom plates 93 of the pair of bundle receivers alignedwith the pads. As best shown in Fig. 4, the plungers l3 and I4 and thepads I5 thereon are arranged outwardly of the chains 85 and 88 and theparts carried thereby.

The operation is so timed that after the pads I5 attain their lowermostposition advancing movement is imparted to the conveyor C to index thepair of bundle receivers which have just received a bundle of blanksfrom bundle receiving position and to bring another pair of bundlereceivers into bundle receiving position which position is attainedprior to the time the pads 15 again start their downward movement.

Advancing movement is imparted to the conveyor C by the cam 95 (Fig. 11)fast on the cam shaft 29. A reenforcing web 96 extends between the sideplates of the frame 30. A bracket 91 depends from this reenforcing weband provides a bearing 98. Another bearing 99 (Fig. 2) is carried by theframe 30 forwardly of the bearing 98 and a shaft I00 is joumaled inthese bearings. A rocker IN is mounted on the shaft I00 and carries acam follower roller I02 that is urged against the peripheral cam 95 by aspring I03 extending between the rocker IM and a spring anchor on theframe 30. A ratchet I 04 (Figs. 2 and 11) is fast on the shaft 88outwardly of one of the side members of the frame 30. An arm I05 isrockably mounted on the shaft 88 outwardly of the ratchet I04 andcarries a pawl I08 which is acted on by a spring I01 which when disposedover center urges the pawl I08 into en-- out damage to the mechanismnormally driven thereby.

An indexing plate IIO (Figs. 2 and 11) is fast on the shaft 80 adjacentthe ratchet I04. Notches III are provided at spaced intervals in theperiphery of the indexing plate IIO. An arm II2 carrying the stud H3 isurged toward the periphery of the indexing plate IIO by a spring II4,said arm being mounted on the frame 30 as indicated at H5 (Fig. 2). Thespacing between the notches III corresponds to the spacing of the bundlereceivers on the conveyor C. As the roller I02 rides onto a. lower partof the cam 95 the rocker IOI moves upwardly under the action of thespring I03 and the pawl I08 freely rides over. the teeth of tharatchetI04. As the arm I05 ascends, it will engage the lower end of the stud2', which depends from the end of the arm H2, and the arm II2 willtherefore be lifted to withdraw the stud II3 fromengagement with a notchIII in the index plate II 0. However, as the roller I02 passes onto arise on the cam 95, the rocker IOI starts to move downwardly and thepawl I08 seats in a tooth of the ratchet I04 and imparts rotativemovement to said ratchet and consequently the shaft 88 which impartsadvancing movement to the conveyor C. At the end of downward movement ofthe rocker IIII the stud II3 will be in alignment with the succeedingnotch III in which it will seat to hold the conveyor C in its newlyattained position. The yieldable connection afforded by the link I09 andassociated mechanism enables the rocker IOI to complete its downwardmovement notwithstanding that the engagementof the stud II3 with a notchI I I in the index plate IIO may have halted the rotation of the shaft88 and ratchet I 04.

After the bundles have been picked up from the pads I5 by the bundlereceivers they are carried forwardly in the step by step movement of theconveyor C to the means for securing the stacked blanks into bundleswhich may be handled as units. This means has been referred toheretofore as the tying mechanism. The tying mechanism employed in thepresent machine is of the kind shown and described in my copendingapplication Serial No. 735,380, filed July 16, 1934, to whichapplication reference may be had for the particular details ofconstruction and operation which will now be only generally d scribed. e

The tying mechanism illustrated includes a pair of brackets H6 and II I(Fig. 12) which are mounted on top of the frame 30 and which support ashaft II8 on which spools of wire H9 and I are rotatably mounted.Another pair of brackets as I2I (Fig. 9) are mounted below the top ofthe frame 30 and carry a shaft I22 on which spools of wire as I23 aremounted, one spool as I23 being disposed substantially in verticalalignment with the spool I20 and the other;

spool as I23 being disposed substantially in vertical alignment with thespool II9.

A length of wire I24 is led from the spool I20 about a guide pulley I25and a length of wire I26 is led from the aligned spool I23 about a guidepulley I21 that is disposed slightly out of vertical alignment with thepulley I25. The ends of these lengths of wire are initially intertwistedand the pulleys I25 and I2I are so disposed transversely of the machinethat the lengths of wire I24 and I25 and their intertwisted ends lieoutwardly of one end of thebottom plates 93 of the bundle receivers onthe conveyor C. A length of wire I28 is led from the spool H9 and alength of wire (not shown) is led from the aligned spool as I23. Theselengths of wire are passed about guide pulleys relatively positionedsimilarly to the guide pulleys I25 and I2'I but on the opposite side ofthe conveyor so that the lengths of wire as I28 will lie outwardly ofthe opposite ends of the-plates 93 of the bundle receivers.

The guide pulleys as I25 and I2'I are so disposed longitudinally in theframe 30 and the location of the bundle receivers on the conveyor 0 issuch that in an at rest interval in the step by step movement of theconveyor the leading edge of a bundle substantially abuts theintertwisted ends of the lengths of wire led from the spools.

A guide plate I29 (Figs. 9 and 12) is carried by the frame 30 and isspaced above the bottom plates 93 of the bundle receivers on theconveyor C. The end of this guide plate with which the bundles firstcooperate as they move with the conveyor 0 is upturned to insure passageof the bundles thereunder. The guide plate I29 is so disposed verticallythat the stacked blanks in the bundle receivers on the conveyor aretightly pressed against the bottom plates as 93. Hence the guide plateI29 is in the nature of a packing device and obviates looseness of theblanks in the bundles after passage thereof from the tying mechanismwherein the packed blanks are securely tied together.

The leading edge of a bundle engaged with the intertwisted ends of thewire lengths, as above described, is at position A in Fig. 9 and isdisposed below the plate I29. In the next advancing movement of theconveyor the bundle moves from position A to position B in Fig. 9 andstill lies below the plate I29. In advancing from position A to positionB the intertwisted ends of the wire lengths are tightly engaged with theleading edge of the bundle and the adjacent portions of the wire lengthsare drawn across the top and bottom of the bundle and are extendedthereacross when the bundle attains position B.

As described in my above referred to copend ing application, the tyingmechanism includes separable jaws as I30 and I3I, a pair of such jawsbeing provided at each side of the conveyor C to cooperate with .thewire lengthsdrawn across the bundles in the above described manner. Thejaws are separated or open at the time a bundle passes from position Ato position B in Fig. 9. Immediately after the bundle attains position Bthe jaws are closed to draw the wire lengths down over the trailing edgeof the bundle.

Closing of the jaws in this manner is effected by a pair of integral andidentical but oppositely formed cams. I32 and I33 (Fig. 12) which arerespectively engaged by cam followers I34 and I35. The cam follower I34is mounted on a rocker I36 while the cam follower I35 is mounted on arockerI3I. The cam I32 controls the closing of the jaws cooperating withthe wire lengths at the left in Fig. 12 while the cam I33 controls theclosing of he jaws mounted at the right in Fig. 12. The ockers I36 andI3! are mounted on a shaft I38 suitably journaled in bearings I39 andI40 (Fig. 9). A link I interconnects the rocker I36 with the jaws I30and I3I at the left in Fig. 12 through cooperating links I4Ia and lbwhile a link I42 interconnects the rocker I31 with the jaws I30 and I3Iat the right through cooperating links I 4Ia and lb. The cam followersI34 and I35 pass onto rises in the cams I32 and I33 immediately after abundle attains podtion B in Fig. 9.

' of the jaws.

unites the gea tinuous gears and these gears are rotated to intertwistthe wire lengths after the severing and tinuous gears.

Each pair of jaws I30 and I3I includes separable gear halves which inthe-manner explained in my above referred to copending application severand clampthe wire lengths upon closing lljihghermore, closingtifthe'jaws 5 ves so that they provide conclamping thereof to secure thewires on the bundle and to intertwist the wires leading from 10,

the spools for engagement with the leading edge .of the succeedingbundle.

Rotative movement is not imparted to the gear halves until after theuniting thereof into contive movement to these gear halves is undercontrol of a cam I 43 (Fig. 17) fast on the shaft 29 and engaged by acam follower I44 carried by the rocker I45 mounted on the shaft I38,said cam follower being held against the periphery of the 20 cam I43 bya spring I46 that extends between the rocker I45 and a spring anchor onthe frame 30. 1

The gear halves in the jaws I30 and I2I at the right mesh with a gearI41 (Fig. 12) while 25 the gear halves in the jaws I30 and I3I at theleft mesh witha. gear I48. The gear I" is mounted on a shaft I49 whilethe gear I48 is mounted on a shaft I50, said shafts being suit-.

ably journaled in'the frame 30. Near the for- 30 ward end of the frame30, shaft I49 carries agear I5I while shaft I50 carries a gear I52. Thegears I5I and I 52 both mesh with a gear I53 (Figs. 9 and 17). that isrotatably mounted on a clutch member I54 keyed to the shaft 35. The 3clutch member I54 is part of a one-revolution clutch that is undercontrol of the rockers I55 and I56 (Fig. 1'7). A link I51 interconnectsthe rocker I55 and the rocker I45. A disc I58 is fast to the gear I53and has a notch I59 therein Q in which a stud I60 on the rocker I56 isadapted to seat, said stud being urged toward said notch by a spring I.

' When the cam follower I 44 moves onto a rise in the cam I43, therocker I55 is pivoted so that '35 and this rotation is transmittedthrough the gears I5I and I52 to the shafts I49 and I50 which in turnrotate the gears I41 and I48 to set the, separable, gears in the jaws inmotion where-, upon the wire lengths are intertwisted, the gears I 5I,I52 and I53 making substantially three revolutions to one of the camshaft 29. As the follower I44 moves off the rise on cam I43 the 55spring I 6| so positions the stud I 60 that it is in position to engagein the notch I59 and insure proper positioning of the gear I53 at theend of its third revolution, said stud I60 engaging the periphery ofdisc I53 to continue rotation until N the stud seats in the notch. Assoon as the gear I53 has completed its revolutions the cams I32 and I33cause the 'jaws I30 and I3I to open whereupon intertwisted wire lengthsare disposed in front ofthe leading edge of the succeeding bundle andshortly thereafter the conveyor indexes and the above described tyingoperation is completed.

, In order to prevent overrunning of the shafts I49 and I50 and theParts driven therebyand 7 also overrunning of the clutch device I54,adjustable friction tension devices I62, I63 and I64 '(Fig. 16) areprovided which act on these. parts to arrest movement thereofimmediately upondiscontinuance of the supply of power thereto. ,3

The means for imparting rota- 15 e In the operation following thesecuring of the binding wires upon a bundle at position B, the.

bound bundle moves into position E (Fig. 9). In the succeeding cycle ofoperation the bundle at position E is discharged from the bundlereceiver in which it has been retained onto downwardly inclined guidesI65 (Figs. 9 and '13) to pass onto a ledge I66, said bundle coming torest on said edge against the stop I61.

During the succeeding cycle of operation the bundle resting on the ledgeI66 is forced into the bite between the curvature imparting rollers bythe plunger I68 mounted in the bracket I69 disposed at one side of theframe 30. An opening I10 (Fig. 13) is provided in the plunger I68 inwhich a roller "I is disposed, said roller being rotatably mounted atthe free end of a rocker I12 pivotally mounted as indicated at I13 onthe bracket I69.

A reciprocatory movement is imparted to the rocker I12 and hence theplunger I68 by a cam I14 fast on the cam shaft 29 and engaged by a camfollower roller I15 carried by the rocker I16- pivotally mounted on theframe 30 as indicated at I11. As best shown in Fig. 9v the rocker I16 isbifurcated and at the lower end thereof carries a rotatable stud I18. Alink I19 has one end thereof connected to the rocker I12 and theopposite screw threaded end thereof is passed through an opening in thestud I18. Nuts I and I8I (Fig. 13) are mounted on the screw threaded endof the link I19 on opposite sides of the stud I18 and by adjusting thelongitudinal position of said nuts on said link the relative position ofthe rockers I12 and I16 maybe adjusted and consequently the amount ofmovement imparted to the rocker I12 and the plunger I68 from therocker-I16 may be regulated. A spring I82 acts on the link I19 tomaintain the cam follower roller I15 in engagement with the cam I14.When the high part of the cam I14 engages the roller I15 the rocker I16is pivoted counter-clockwise whereupon the plunger I68 moves to theright as viewed in Fig. 13 and forces the bound bundle resting on theledge I66 into the bight of the curvature imparting rollers now to bedescribed.

Two frame members I83 and I84 (Fig. 14) extend outwardly from the frame30 on the opposite side of said frame from that at which the bracket I69(Fig. 2) is mounted. A pair of rollers I85 and I86 each includetrunnions respectively journaled in the frame members I83 and I84, saidrollers being mounted in horizontal alignment and having the upperportions of the peripheries thereof disposed slightly above thehorizontal plane of the ledge I66. Slots I 81 and I88 extend into theframe members I83 and I84 from the top sides thereof and blocks I89 andI90 are respectively mounted in these slots for vertical movementtherein. A plate I9I extends between the frame members I83 and I84 atthe top sides thereof and closes the slots I81 and I88.

- Adjusting screws I92 and I93 are mounted in the rollers wherefore aroller I94 having trunnions thereon mounted in the blocks I 89 and I 90lies between and above the rollers I85 and I86. By-

adjusting the vertical position of the adjusting rollers I85 and I86.

screws I92 and I93 the spacing or bite between the roller I94 and therollers I85 and I86 may be adjusted. This adjustment determines theamount of curvature imparted to a bundle forced forwardly by the plungerI66 to pass between the roller I94 and the rollers I85 and I86.

The rollers I85, I86 and I94 are preferably longitudinally fluted toinsure imparting of feeding movement to a bundle passed into the bitetherebetween. Feeding movement is imparted to the rollers I85 and I06from a shaft I95 having a gear I96 thereon that meshes with' gears I91and I98 respectively fast on trunnions of the Power is supplied to theshaft I95 from the motor 3| through belts I99 that pass about the pulley32 and a pulley 200 fast on the shaft I95.

By adjusting the relative vertical position of the roller I94 withrespect to the rollers I86 and I86 the amount of curvature imparted to abun- U dle may be varied. As the bundles pass from the rollers I85, I86and I94 they may fall'into a discharge chute or be picked up by anoperative of the machine to be stacked and transported to a suitablestorage place or the like.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that I have provideda machine into which sheets of expanded metal are automatically fed andwherein such sheets will be so cut that blanks of uniform size areproduced. The blanks are collected as they are cut from the sheets andare neatly stacked in bundles which are tightly packed and then securelybound. After having been bound the bundles are fed Into means forimparting a predetermined curvature thereto. It

will thus be manifest that inserts for brake shoe end of the machine,the operatives of course taking care that a supply of binding wires orthe like are maintained in the machine to insure that the stacked blankscut from the sheets will be securely bound into bundles that may behandled as units.

One of the important objects of this invention is to enable variousoperating parts of the machine to operate'simultaneously. Thus referringto Fig. 18 and assuming that the machine has been in operation so thateach of the bundle receivers along the upper reaches of the chains 85and 86, except the bundle receivers aligned with the pads 15, arecarrying bundles and also assuming that a bundle is resting on the ledgeI66, at the start of the next cycle of operation the cam follower 42will be riding on the rise on the cam 4| near the end of the rise, theroller 11 will be riding up the sharp rise on the cam 18, the camfollowers I34 and I35 will be disposed near the end of the low parts ofthe cams I32 and I33, the cam follower I44 will be spaced from the riseon the cam I43, the cam follower I15 will be riding on the dwell of thecam I 14, and the cam follower I02 will be nearing the end of the riseon the cam 95.

With the parts in these positions and with the motors 24 and 3| inoperation, after fl've degrees of revolution of the cam shaft 29 the camfollower I02 will have passed from the rise on cam 95 and-the conveyorwill be at rest so that a pair of bundle receivers will be in positionto receive the blanks to be stacked upon the pads 15 in this cycle ofoperation.

Also after five degrees of rotation of cam shaft 29 the cam follower 42will begin to pass onto the low part of cam 4| and after thirty degreesof revolution of the cam shaft 29 it will reach the low part of said camat which time the rocker 39 will have moved the link 38 downwardly tohave retracted the dog 28 and set the shaft 2| in operation and as aresult of this the first blanks will be cut from the sheets S.

The roller 10 will continue riding up the sharp rise on the cam 18 and,after about twenty degrees of revolution of the cam shaft 29, the pads15 will have been elevated into their uppermost or initial position soas to be in position to receive the first of the blanks cut from thesheets S, which first blanks will be cut from the sheets prior to thetime the cam shaft 29 will have rotated ninety degrees.

Upon the start of a cycle of operation the camfollowers I34 and I35start to move onto rises on the cams I 32 and I33 so that after thirtydegrees of movement of the cam shaft 29 the jaws I30 and I 3I will becompletely closed. Further, after thirty-five degrees of movement of thecam shaft, the cam follower I44 starts to move onto the rise on cam I43so that after fifty-five degrees of rotation of the cam shaft the shaftsI49 and I50 will be set in rotation which means that the operable gearsin the jaws I30 and I3I do not start to rotate until the jaws arecompletely closed and the gear halves therein are united.

After twenty degrees of rotation of the cam shaft 29 the cam followerIi15 starts to move up on the rise on cam I14 wherefore the plunger I68begins its movement toward the bundle resting on the ledge I66 and bythe time the cam shaft 29 has rotated one hundred forty degrees theplunger I68 will have completed its movement toward the right and thebundle which has been resting on the ledge I66 will be gripped betweenand be fed by the rollers I94 and I and I86 and at this time the plungerI68 starts to move to. the left as viewed in Fig. 13 and said plungerattains its initial position by the time the cam shaft 29 has rotatedtwo hundred sixty degrees in which position it dwells until thesucceeding cycle of operation. The bundle fed to the rollers I94 and I85and I86 has a predetermined curvature imparted thereto longitudinallythereof as it passes between the roller I94 and the rollers I85 and I86.

The cam follower 42 remains on the relieved part of cam 4I wherefore thepress P continues in operation until the cam shaft 29 has rotated abouttwo hundred ten degrees whereupon the follower 42 starts to move ontothe rise on cam 4I which position is attained slightly after the camshaft has rotated two hundred thirty-five degrees. Prior to this timehowever the roller 11 will move from the highest part of the cam 18 ontothe next lowermost part, said roller starting this movement after thecam shaft has rotated ninety degrees and dwelling on this next lowermostpart while the cam shaft rotates from its one hundred thirty degreeposition to its one thirty degree position of the cam shaft is attainedat which time it starts up on the sharp rise of cam 18, the third of theblanks cut from the sheets S being deposited on the blanks alreadyresting on the pads 15 when the roller 11 is engaging the lowermostportion of the cam 18. When the cam shaft has rotated two hundred fortydegrees the cam follower I44 moves toward the relieved part of the camI48 and when the cam shaft has rotated two hundred fifty degrees saidcam follower moves onto the relieved part of said cam wherefore movementimparted to the shafts I49 and I50 is interrupted since by this time thestud I60 will be seated in the notch I59. Furthermore, when the camshaft is rotated two hundred fifty-five degrees the cam followers I34and I35 start to move onto the relieved parts of cams I32 and I33 andconsequently start to open the jaws I30 and I3I and by the time the camshaft has rotated two hundred eighty-five degrees the jaws I30 and I3Iare completely open and the cam followers I84 and I35 ride on dwells onthe cams I32 and I33 until the start of the next cycle of operation. Asstated above, movement of the conveyor is interrupted after five degreesof movement of the cam shaft 29 in a given cycle of operation and thecam follower I02 rides on a dwell on the cam 95 until the cam shaft hasrotated thirty-five degrees whereupon the cam 95 so acts on the camfollower I02 that the rocker IN is moved upwardly at which time the pawlI08 freely rides over the teeth in the ratchet I04 and when the camshaft has rotated two hundred seventy degrees the cam 95 acts on theroller I02 to move the rocker IOI downwardly whereuponthe conveyor isset in motion which continues until five degrees of movement in thesucceeding cycle of operation have been completed at which timedownward, movement of the rocker IOI under influence of the cam 95 willcease. It will be apparent however from reference to Fig. 18 that theconveyor C does not start in a cycle of operation until all the otherparts have been so positioned that likelihood of conflict is avoided.

Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that by the use of a single camshaft and the provision of properly formed cams thereon I am enabled toeffect simultaneous operation of a plurality of operating devices in themachine which expedites operation and insures rapid production ofinserts or the like in the machine.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that substantiallyall of the operations are effected automatically, it only being necessary to manually supply sheets to the machine and to manually remove thefinished articles" therefrom. Neither of these operations requiresparticular dexterity wherefore the operatives may wear relatively heavygloves and, as a res'ult, cutting of the operatives hands by sharp edgesor corners on the material is obviated. Furthermore, the machineoperates to automatically feed sheets into the machine and to completelyperform all of the necessary operations to form articles from the sheetswhich avoids the necessity of handling the material and enableseconomical manufacture.

In the foregoing description I have described my invention asparticularly adapted for forming inserts for brake shoes or similarcastings from expanded metal but it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to such usage but is especially adapted forusage in those instances where articles are to be made from materialthat is difdcult to handle or likely to in.-

Jure the hands or tear the clothing ofcperatives, or the like, andtherefore I am not to be limited to the precise details set forth but.desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as. fall withinthe purview of the following claims.

I claim: v

1. In a machine of the class described, means for severing blanks fromsheet material, receiving means on which the severed blanks aredeposited, means for lowering the receiving means from an initial blankreceiving position and for restoring such means to such position andoperable to lower the receiving means in an amount substantially equalto the thickness of the blanks intermediate passage of the blanksthereto whereby neat stacking of the blanks one upon the other on saidreceiving means is insured, and means for removing the blanks from saidreceiving means after a predetermined number of blanks have been stackedthereon, the means for lowering and restoring the receiving meansoperating to restore the receiving means to its initial blank receivingposition after the means for removing a stack of blanks therefrom hasremoved such a stack of blanks.

2. In a machine of the class described, means for severing blanks fromsheet material, receiving means on which the severed blanks aredeposited, means for lowering the receiving means from an initial blankreceiving position and for restoring such means to such position andoperable to lower the receiving means in an amount substantially equalto the thickness of the blanks intermediate passage of the blanksthereto whereby neat stacking of the blanks one upon the other on saidreceiving means is insured, and means for removing the blanks from saidreceiving means after a predetermined number of blanks have been stackedthereon, said means for lowering and restoring said receiving meansoperating to restore said receiving means to its initial blank receivingposition after removal of said blanks therefrom by said blank removingmeans.

3. In a machine of the class described, severing means, receiving meanson which blanks severed by the severing means are stacked, and means forefiecting cyclic operation of the ma-/ chine and said severing and saidreceiving means and including means for effecting a plurality ofoperations of said severing means in a single cycle of operation of saidmachine whereby a plurality of blanks are severed in each cycle ofoperation, the cyclic operation efiecting means also including means forlowering said receiving means from an initial blank receiving positionand for restoring such means to such position and operable to lower thereceiving means in an amount substantially equal to thethickness of theblanks intermediate severing operations of said severing means wherebyneat stacking of the blanks one upon the other on-said receiving meansis insured, the means for lowering and restoring said receiving meansoperating to restore the-receiving means to its initial blank receivingposition after a predetermined number of blanks have been stackedthereon.

4. In a machine of the class'described, severing means, receiving meanson which blanks severed by the severing means are stacked, means foreffecting cyclic operation of the machine and said severing and saidreceiving means and including means for efiecting a. plurality ofoperations of said severing means in a single cycle of operation of saidmachine whereby a plurality of blanks are severed in each cycle ofoperation, the cyclic operation eifecting means also including means forlowering said receiving means from an initial blank receiving positionand for restoring such means to such position and operable to lower thereceiving means in an amount substantially equal to the thickness of theblanks intermediate severing operations of said severing means wherebyneat stacking of the blanks one upon the other on said receiving meansis insured, and means operable in each cycle of operation of the machineto remove said plurality of blanks from said receiving means, the meansfor lowering and restoring the receiving means operating to restore thereceiving means to its initial blank receiving position after the meansfor removing a stack of blanks therefrom has removed such a stack ofblanks.

5. In a machine of the class described, severing means, receiving meanson which blanks severed by the severing means are stacked, means foreffecting cyclic operation of the machine and said severing and saidreceiving means and including means for effecting a. plurality ofoperations of said severing means in a single cycle of operation of saidmachine whereby a plurality of blanks are severed in each cycle ofoperation, the cyclic operation eflecting means also including means forlowering said receiving means from an initial blank receiving positionand for restoring such means to such position and operable to lower thereceiving means in an amount substantially equal to the thickness of theblanks intermediate severing operations of said severing means wherebyneat stacking of the blanks one upon the other on said receiving meansis insured, and means operable in each cycle of operation of the machineto remove said plurality of blanks from said receiving means, said meansfor lowering and restoring said receiving means operating in each cycleof operation to restore said receiving means to initial blank receivingposition after removal of the blanks therefrom by said blank removingmeans.

6. In a machine of the class described, severing means, operating meansfor operating said severing means, means for feeding sheet material tosaid severing means, means for operat ing said feeding means from saidoperating means to advance a predetermined amount of said sheet materialpast said severing means whereby a blank of predetermined size is cutfrom said material in each severing operation of said severing means,receiving means for said blanks, and means for lowering said receivingmeans from an initial blank receiving position and for restoring suchmeans to such position and operable to lower the receiving meansintermediate severing operations of said severing means whereby neatstacking of the blanks one upon the other on said receiving means isinsured, the means for lowering and restoring said receiving meansoperating to restore the receiving means to its initial blank receivingposition after a predetermined number of blanks have been stackedthereon.

'7. Ina machine of the class described, severing means, operating meansfor operating said severing means, means for feeding sheet material tosaid severing means, means for operating said feeding means fromsaidoperating means to advance a predetermined amount of said sheet materialpast said severing means intermediate severing operations of saidsevering means from said material .in the respective severing.

operations of said severing means, receiving means for said blanks, andmeans for effecting cyclic operation of said machine and including meanscon-trolling operation of said operating means and operable to efiect aplurality of operations of said feeding means and a plurality ofsevering operations of said severing means in each cycle of operation ofthe machine, the cyclic operation effecting means also including meansfor lowering said'receiving means from an initial blank receivingposition and for restoring such means to such position and operable tolower thereceiving means in an amount substantially equal to thethickness of the blanks intermediate severing operations of saidsevering means whereby neat stacking of the blanks one upon the other onsaid receiving means is insured, the means for lowering and restoringthe receiving means operating subsequent to the last feeding andsevering operations in a cycle of operations to restore the receivingmeans to its initial blank receiving position;

8. In a machine of the class described, severing means, operating meansfor operating said severing means, means for feeding sheet material tosaid severing means, means for operating said feeding means from saidoperating means to advance a predetermined mount of said sheet materialpast said severing means intermediate severing operations of saidsevering means whereby blanks of predetermined size are cut from saidmaterial in the respective severing operations of said severing means,receiving means for said blanks, means for effecting cyclic operation ofsaid machine and including means controlling operation of said operatingmeans and operable to effect a plurality of operations of said feedingmeans and a plurality of severing operations of said severing means ineach cycle of opertaion of the machine, the cyclic operating effectingmeans also including means for lowering said receiving means from aninitial blank receiving position and for restoring such means to suchposition and operable to lower the receiving means in an amountsubstantially equal to the thickness of the blanks intermediate severingoperations of said severing means whereby neat stacking of the blanksone upon the other on said receiving means is insured, and means forremoving the blanks stacked on said receiving means in each cycle ofoperation of the machine, the means for lowering and restoring thereceiving means operating to restore the receiving means to its initialblank receiving position after the means for removing a stack of blankstherefrom has removed such a stack of blanks.

9. In a machine of the class described, severing means, operating meansfor operating said severing means, means for feeding sheet material tosaid severing means, means for operating said feeding means from saidoperating means to advance a predetermined amount of said sheet materialpast said severing means intermediate severing operations of saidsevering means whereby blanks of predetermined size are cut from saidmaterial in the respective severing operations of said severing means,receiving means for said blanks, means for effecting cyclic operation ofsaid machine and including means controlling operation of said operatingmeans and operable to efiect a plurality of operations of said feedingmeans and a plurality of severing operations of said severing means ineach cycle of operation of the machine, thecyclic operating effectingmeans also including means for lowering said receiving means in anamount substantially equal to the thickness of the blanks intermediatesevering operations of said severing means whereby neat stacking of theblanks one upon the other on said receiving means is insured, and meansfor removing the blanks stacked on said receiving means in each cycle ofoperation of the machine, said cyclic operation effecting meansincluding means for operating said blank removing means.

10. In a machine of the class described, severing means, operating meansfor operating said severing means, means for feeding sheet material tosaid severing'means, means for operating said feeding means from saidoperating means to advance a predetermined amount of said sheet materialpast said severing means intermediate severing operations of saidsevering means whereby blanks of predetermined size are cut from saidmaterial in the respective severing operations of said severing means,receiving means for said blanks, means for effecting cyclic operation ofsaid machine and including means controlling operation of said operatingmeans and operable to effect a plurality of operations of.

said feeding means and a plurality of severing operations of saidsevering means in each cycle of operation of the machine, the cyclicoperating efiecting means also including means for lowering saidreceiving means from an initial blank v receiving position and forrestoring such means means for removing the blanks stacked on saidreceiving means in each cycle of operation of the machine, said cyclicoperation effecting means including means for operating said blankremoving means, said means for lowering and restoring said receivingmeans operating in each cycle of operation of the machine to restoresaid receiving means to initial blank receiving position after removalof said blanks therefrom by said blank removing means;

11. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, severing means,operating means for said severing means, means for effecting cyclicoperation of said machine and including means for controlling theoperation of said operating means of said severing means in each cycleof operation of the machine whereby said severing means cuts a pluralityof blanks in each cycle of operation, means for collecting anddepositing such plurality of blanks on the conveyor, said cyclicoperation effecting means including means for imparting a step by stepmovement to said conveyor, the means on said cyclic operation efiectingmeans operating to advance said conveyor once in each cycle of operationof said machine whereby each plurality of blanks severed in each cycleof operation of the machine is deposited in spaced relation with eachother on said conveyor, said cyclic operation effecting means includingmeans for lowering and restoring said collecting and depositing meansfrom and to an initial position in each cycle of operation of themachine and operable to lower such means intermediate severingoperations of said severing means in an amount substantially equal tothe thickness of the blanks cut by said severing means whereby neatstacking of the blanks and depositing thereof on the conveyor areinsured, the lowering and restoring means operating to restore thecollecting and depositing means to its initial position after a stack ofblanks have been deposited thereby on the conveyor.

12. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, severing means,operating means for said severing means. means for effecting cyclicoperation of said machine and including means for controlling theoperation of said operating means and operable to efiect a plurality ofoperations of said severing means in each cycle of operation of themachine whereby said severing means cuts a plurality of blanks in eachcycle of operation, means for collecting and depositing such pluralityof blanks on the conveyor, said cyclic operation efiecting meansincluding means for imparting a step by step movement to said conveyor,the means on said cyclic operation effecting means operating to advancesaid canveyor once in each cycle of operation of said machine wherebyeach plurality of blanks severed in each cycle of operation of themachine is deposited in spaced relation with each other on saidconveyor, other means on the cyclic operation efiecting means foroperating the collecting and depositing means, and means for tightlypacking the blanks stacked on said conveyor one upon the other andpositioned forwardly of the severing means to be engaged by said blanksin the step by step movement of said conveyor after said conveyor movessaid blanks away from said severing means.

13. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, severing means,operating means for said severing means, means for effecting cyclicoperation of said machine and including means for controlling theoperation of said operating means and operable to effect a plurality ofoperations of said severing means in each cycle of operation of themachine whereby said severing means cuts a plurality oi blanks in eachcycle of operation, means for collecting and depositing such pluralityof blanks on the conveyor, said cyclic operation effecting meansincluding means for imparting a step by step movement to said conveyor,the means on said cyclic operation eil'ecting means operating to advancesaid conveyor once in each cycle of operation of said machine wherebyeach plurality of blanks severed in each cycle of operation of themachine is deposited in spaced relation with each other on saidconveyor, other means on the cyclic operation effecting means foroperating the collecting and depositing means, means for tightly packingthe blanks stacked on said conveyor one upon the other and positionedforwardly of the severing means to be engaged by said blanks in the stepby step movement of said conveyor after said conveyor moves said blanksaway from said severing means. and means cooperating with the packingmeans for applying binding means about the packed stacks of blankswhereby said stacks may be handled as units after passage thereof fromthe means applying binding means thereto.

14. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, severing means,operating meansfor said severing means. means for eirecting cyclicoperation of said machine and including means for controlling theoperation 01 said operating means cycle of operation of the machine isdeposited in spaced relation with each other on said conveyor, othermeans on the cyclic operation effecting means for operating thecollecting and depositing means, means for tightly packing the blanksstacked on said conveyor one upon the other and positioned forwardly ofthe severing means to be engaged by said blanks in the step by stepmovement of said conveyor after said conveyor moves said blanks awayfrom said severing means, and means cooperating with the packing meansfor applying binding means about the packed stacks of blanks wherebysaid stacks may be handled as units after passage thereof from the meansapplying binding means thereto, said cyclic operation efiecting meansincluding means for controlling the operation of the means for applyingbinding means on said stacks.

15. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, severing means,operating means for said severing means, means for effecting cyclicoperation of said machine and including means for controlling theoperation of said operating means and operable to effect a plurality ofoperations of said severing means in each cycle of operation of themachine whereby said severing means cuts a plurality of blanks in eachcycle of operation, means for collecting and depositing such pluralityoi' blanks on the conveyor, said cyclic operation eflecting meansincluding means for imparting a step by step movement to said conveyor.the means on said cyclic operation ef- .fecting means operating toadvance said conveyor once in each cycle of operation of said machinewhereby each plurality of blanks severed in each cycle 01' operation ofthe ma chine is deposited in spaced relation with each other on saidconveyor, other means on the cyclic operation eflecting means foroperating the collecting and depositing means, and tying meanspositioned along the path of travel of said conveyor away from saidsevering means and operable to apply binding means on the stacks ofblanks positioned on said conveyor, said tying means being arranged todispose the binding means in the path 01' travel of the stacks of blankson said conveyor whereby the binding means are drawn over opposite sidesof a stack of blanks on said conveyor in the step by step movement ofthe conveyor, said tying means also including means for severing thebinding means from supplies thereof in the machine and for securing saidbinding means on the stack of blanks about which the binding means havebeen drawn across the stacks and also operating to dispose said bindingmeans in position for engagement with the succeeding stack of blanks,said cyclic operation effecting means also including means forcontrolling operation oi said tying means.

WILLIAM S. FRAUIA.

